resolving power

noun

1. Optics. the ability of an optical device to produce separate images of close objects.
2. Photography. the degree to which a lens or photographic emulsion is able to define the details of an image.

resolving power

noun

1. Also calledresolution physics
   1. the ability of a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument to produce separate images of closely placed objects
   2. the ability of a spectrometer to separate two adjacent peaks in a spectrum
2. photog the ability of an emulsion to show up fine detail in an image

Word History and Origins

Origin of resolving power¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Collectively, the telescopes had the resolving power of a single mirror as wide as the distance between them — an effectively Earth-size telescope.

From Quanta Magazine

The resolving power of the interferometer is found to be somewhat more than double that of a telescope of the same aperture.

From Project Gutenberg

It is especially to be noticed that the resolving power does not depend directly upon the closeness of the ruling.

From Project Gutenberg

There is clearly no theoretical limit to the resolving power of gratings, even in spectra of given order.

From Project Gutenberg

The visibility of a star is a question of brightness simply, and has nothing to do with resolving power.

From Project Gutenberg

The resolving power and the width of the emergent beam fix the optical character of the instrument.

From Project Gutenberg